Hi I am new to this site just pulled it up this evening finding it to be very informative, wish I would have read it before my TWO back surguries. Has anyone heard of the above mentioned or better yet used this unit for the repair of their back and/or sciatica? Also, do I have to purchase Dean's book online...isn't it available in stores

Long story short, the chiropractors who are advertising these treatments are flat out lying. Perhaps they don't know they're lying - as the newspaper article seems to imply - but they aren't telling you the truth.

Remember, they claimed that spinal manipulation would cure back pain, too.

Dean has spinal decompression exercises in his book that I do several times a day that I've found to be very effective. I believe his approach makes much more sense than any of the commercially available alternatives.

On your second question; I've been in discussions with Dean about getting the book published in paperback form and he's looking into it. (No, I don't work for him. I've never even met him.)

For now it's only available online as an ebook... which does have it's advantages. (I keep mine in a loose-leaf 3-ring binder that I can lay out flat on the floor. Very handy.)

Spinal decompression is important and should be part of any rebuilding program. That's why I include exercises that accomplish this in the book.

Traction devices like the DRX-9000 are simply overblown gimmicks designed to get your money. You can do the same thing even better on your own for free, so why spend upwards of $4000?

With the Spinal Decompression clinics you only get roughly 20 sessions of "therapy" for a limited period of time. A couple of weeks. It costs a small fortune and, if you need more than the minimum 20 sessions, they charge you more.

Your body needs and deserves more than that.

If you learn a few simple exercises, you can do it yourself for a lifetime and like I said before, entirely for free.

I have nothing against the DRX-9000.

Dean

p.s. Several people have asked, suggested, pleaded, for a hard-copy version of the book. I'm seriously considering that option, but I haven't totally committed to taking that leap yet.

It would probably mean dropping (or modifying) the donation aspect of the site and that raises the question of sales taxes and so on and so forth...

The only question being raised by the newspaper article is the advertising tactics these chiros were using. There has been a tremendous amount of recent talk in the decomp industry about what is acceptable advertising and what is not.

Advertising laws very from state to state and local jurisdiction. A national marketing strategy developed by Axiom (DRX manufacturer) has shown to not be compliant in all areas. Plus, California is a difficult state to own and operate ANY business.

Dean's comment about these chiros intentionally misleading the public is incorrect. There was no malicious intent (I have the same marketing materials in my office - not being used now) on anyone's part. The treatment works, the chiros were just foolish in their advertising campaign. Remember what Dean said there - don't read too much into the story.

Bottom line: the chiros will be fined for bad advertising - nothing else. Same thing could happen to Jim's muffler shop.

Before you ask, no, I don't work for a chiro. And no, my insurance company did not pay a single penny.
I'm a teacher. In March, my back pain from four compressed vertebrae was so intense that I couldn't walk, drive, or even sleep. I consulted a surgeon who offered to perform a 4-hour fusion surgery after which I would be in a back brace for three months. (Yes, my insurance company would have paid thousands for that.) My NUCCA specialist (spine doctor) suggested the DRX 9000 at Wellness One in Bellevue, WA. It was inconvenient to have someone drive me three days a week for treatment for a total cost of over $5000, but after 27 treatments, I am PAIN FREE. I just returned from a 10 day sightseeing trip, flew over 7000 miles, and walked miles and miles every day.
So what if I had to dip into my savings and the insurance company kept their money? I have my life back.
PS - The Wellness One group also suggested 6 acupuncture visits to help stimulate my nerves. I took their advice, too - and my insurance company won't pay for that, either!

I AM SO CONFUSED... PLS HELP!!! I JUST SIGNED THE CONTRACT AT A CHIRO AND AM SUPPOSED TO START TREATMENT TOMORROW...ALMOST $5,000! IT IS SOOOO MUCH MONEY FOR ME BUT IF IT WORKS IT'LL BE THE BEST MONEY I EVER SPENT! WISH I COULD HEAR FROM MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY TRIED IT.

Spinal decompression has been around for many years in the field of physical therapy. Most places call it traction. It can be done for the cervical (neck) or lumbar (low back) area. It has shown to be successful it the treatment of many cervical and lumbar problems, but not for every problem. Some people have been kept from surgery others have not. I suggest that you see your doctor about going to a physical therapist. A physical therapist can evaluate your problem and determine the right treatment for you. This may involve many things such as exercises to help stretch and strengthen your back, which really is the most important part anyway. You can try to decompress the back all you want but if you do not build support for the spine then the decompression does no good. The DRX 9000 and others may work but it does not seem that the poeple using them really know what they are doing. Some physical therapist have been using similar equipment for many years. Some therapist use traction equipment while others do not, but either way a therapist can probably do something to help with your back pain.

You're right Dean: the long-term solution is simple ... and your offered solution certainly worked for me ... and those of us with the time and discipline to stick to a "do-it-yourself" program. But for some of us, it's not so simple to "forget the contracts".

The extreme example that comes to mind is baseball pitcher Randy Johnson. He gets $$millions to pitch baseballs and he's out millions if he does the long-term, slow-acting, rebuild your back program. So quick fixes like the DRX9000 and microdiscectomy (his choice) are very attractive. Last fall (after back pain from a herniated disc prevented him from pitching effectively in the postseason) Randy got a microdiscectomy and he got a good 2 months out of his back this spring ... but now he's missing pitching days because of "back pain" and eventually he'll be "15 day DL", then out for the season, and he'll probably opt for another operation to try and get another year of pitching in to get more millions (... and around and around goes the cycle until finally ... it's just too painful ... but he can't see that far ahead, and he doesn't know basketball great, Larry Bird ... who's got a metal rod holding his back together).

How attractive is the "simple" solution to Randy Johnson? It looks simply ridiculous to him, of course, and, unfortunately, apparently, to millions of others. This need for a quick and easy fix makes the gadgets and gimmicks and scientific sounding nonsense attractive. And I can't really blame them; if you've got the money/insurance, what are you going to do ... really now? I think most of us here come here because we don't have the financial resources to buy our tickets to get on the quick fix treadmill, or we've lost our $few to the gadgets and gimmicks and quacks. Yet this time, we poor shleps doing RYB are lucking out because rebuilding your back is also the best long term solution for the back pain.

I don't feel so bad now ... being on the bottom of the financial pile .... at least I don't have back pain.

I was totally skeptical before signing up for the DRX 9000 treatments. Facing fusion surgery or what else? I tried so many alternatives. Stretching, physical therapy, shots, acupuncture, more excersize, pills, Chinese Chi Master, you name it. One problem is, finding the right alternative. I've read about numerous non surgical options on the web, but NOBODY is giving that away "free". Besides, all the books, videos, alternative ways to heal your back yourself is no guarantee. Everyone is different, and very few can be so disciplined to rid your pain at home, on your own, while enduring the pain that's causing you to look for the alternatives.

I was on the DRX 9000 for 35 sessions. Yes it cost a ton of money. I then spent the next six months with planned PT. Nearly a year later, I'm virtually pain free, back running, golfing, working pain free. FOR ME, it was worth it!

That would hit all the bases and cost a heck of a lot less. I'm seeing numbers like 27 or 30 treatments. Other than two patients with grade 4 spondylolisthesis (fracture and slippage of a vertebra) I've not had any patients go to fusion surgery in years.

Our clinic average is 7 treatments for patients to finish therapy, achieved their treatment goals, and return to their previous activities.

27 treatments would have been about 9 weeks. Demographics on patients that receive no treatment show about the same recovery time over 90% of the time. How about that - 90% success without treatment!

[quote="Silvy WISH I COULD HEAR FROM MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY TRIED IT. [/quote]

Hope I can share my experience and help someone else out, for a couple of years I have been in severe pain and lost sensation in my left leg, however had great pain in the leg at the same time. I went in to a surgeon seeking non-surgical alternatives and as a last resort another surgery. my last surgery was in 2004 was a failure. I made it thru about 15 treatments, and by that time I was at least 1 year worse! In other words I regressed to almost pre-surgery or rather pre-steroid injection condition. I was having spasms that put me on my knees and I had to crawl to the bathroom. I considered the treatments a complete failure with the worst of consequences. I would caution anyone that if you are considering the disk decompression therapy, make sure you go to a neurosurgeon or at least a back specialist MD!!! Not a chiro, or clinic. Go to physical therapy and have real live "Traction" and if that helps then consider the disk decompression therapy. If the regular traction does not help then pulling even harder is going to help how? I get relief from traction, by getting in the swimming pool and hanging off an inner-tube. But for whatever reason the big bad and expensive machine really hurt me bad. I will not ever do it again! And I know that it is not for me, however they claim to have patients who have recieved great benefits from the use of the machine. I just think that before going to the expense and possible frustration of having your back get worse you should see if the basic concept works for you, maybe a doctor can chime in here and add to this thought. Good luck to all!